Horse-collar



(No Model.) Y

' W. THURBER 8v A. NORLING.

HORSE COLLAR. No. 372,439. Patented Nov. 1, 18,87.

f-"llllll @went/0715 UNITED STATES ATTNT Tricia.

VILLIAM THURBER AND ANDRUS NORLT'NG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HORSE-COLLAR.

SPECIFICATION 'Turm-ing part of Letters Patent No. 372,439, dated November lI 1887 (No model.)

improved collar which will combine cheapness and durability, together with convenience in adjustment, the saine consisting of certain novel features in the construction, arrangement, and operation ot' the several parts, as' will be hereinafter set forth in detail.

Figure l is a front elevation of a collar embodyingourimprovedfeatures. Fig.2isan enlarged transverse section in the plane 2, Fig. 1, showing the opposite side; Fig. 3, a detached view of one of the llame-irons, showing the side that is outward from the collar; Fig. 4, a detail of one side of the neck-yoke broken away; Fig. 5, a horizontal transverse section of the joining ends of the neck-yoke; Fig. 6, a dctached detail of construction, and Fig. 7 a modiiication.

In the drawings, A A represent the two pads forming the collar proper, which will be composed ot' paper or wood pulp molded in the desired form. The pads are provided with the scores a to form a yielding joint. The opposite or bearing sides of the collar-pads are provided with the iiexible metallic plates a, (see Fig. 2,) which extend above and below the scored parts. These plates will be usually of thin sheet-steel or other suitable metal combining the required strength and exibility, and will be embedded iiush with the surface of the pads, so as to present a smooth bearing.

Instead of having the pads scored, they may be in a number of parts and hinged together by the metallic plates, the object of this construction being to provide the pads with a dexible joint, whereby the collar will automatically one or more scores at the point where the greatest dcxibility is required. Dispensing with the metal plates will, however, depend somewhat on the nature of the material coniposing thc collarpads. The permanently-secured hanic-irons will coverand strengthen the scored paris, and when the collar is composed of wood, and in two or more parts, the hameirons will retain said parts in proper relation to each other in the absence of backing-plates.

The haine-irons B B form a permanent part of the collar, and may be secured thereto in any suitable manner. These hame-irons are provided with the outwardly-projecting pivotpost terminating in the small pin or pint-le a3. The neck-yoke connecting the lower parts of the collar-pads .is composed of two pieces, C C, which are of a curved angular form, the lower parts being curved to conform to the contour of the breast or neck of the animal, while the upper ends are bent outwardly and project at right angles for the attachment of the hametug. The convex bearing surface of the pivot post or posts ai, forming an integral part of thc haine-irons, engages with the concavity ordeprcssion at, (see Fig. 6,) situated in the angle or corner of the ncck-yoke pieces. The pin prolongation a on the pivot-posts passes through the small apertures b, which are a continuation of the concave depressions in the neck-yoke. This form of construction loosely unites these parts, and at the same time prevents them from becoming disengaged un der ordinary circumstances. The pivotal arrangement of the hame-irons and neck-yoke adapts these parts to have an automatic adjustment, and also an action similar to that of a universal bearing or `joint, thereby enabling the collar to readily conform to the movements of the horse, which require both a lateral and a rolling adjustment.

The lower orjoining ends of the neck-yoke overlap, and have a sliding endwise adjustment relative to each other, and are provided with perforations b', which coincide for the insertion of a suitable locking-pin when adjusting the yoke to fit necks of different sizes, and thus enabling the collar to be conveniently fitted to any animal. The adjusting ends are retained in proper position relative to each other by means of the adjusting clip or Clasp D.

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In the process of making the collar-pads manner.

The particular form of construction and arrangement of the different parts forming the collar proper adapts the same to quickly ad- `just itself to the movements of the horse, and

at the same time retain its proper position and bearing on the muscular parts of the neck and shoulders,.the universal action equalizing` the J draft-strainsand preventing the load from being alternately shifted from one shoulder to the other as the horse moves forward.

As the paris yield readily with each step, the horse is enabled to draw a heavy load with ease, for the reason that the collar has an equal bearing or pressure along the whole line of draft, which is not therase with the ordinary collar,wherein the load is alternately transferred from shoulder to shoulder with every step. .The collar-pads, being made of paper, are Very light, and will retain their original shape under all circumstances. A hard smooth bearing surface is presented which will not wrinkle to ehafe or gall the animal. The space left between the lower ends of the collar and bridged over by the neck-yoke prevents any pressure on the windpipe or any interference with a free respiration.

The pads forming the collar proper may7 be made of any suitable material other than paper-pulp without departing from the spirit of ourinvention.

Fig. 7 is a modification showing a slight change in the construction of a hameiron, and also adifferent joint for connecting the haines with the neck-yoke.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Let-- ters Patent, is-

l. A horse-collar the pads whereof, forming the collar proper, are provided with one or more scores, as at a, to form a flexible yieldingjoint,whereby the pads will automatically adjust themselves to a uniform bearing on the breast and shoulders of the animal, substantially as set forth.

2. A horse-collar the pads whereof, forming the collar proper, are scored and provided with flexible metallic backing-plates, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a horse-collar, the combination, with the pads thereof provided with scores, as at a, to form a flexible joint, of the hame-irons B B, permanently secured thereto and covering the scored parts, substantial y as set forth.

4. In a horse-collar, t e combination, with the collar-pads provided with one or more scores, as at a, of the metal backing plate or plates secured to the inner 'or bearing surface ofsaid pads, and the llame-irons permanently secured to the outer side, substantially as set fort-h.

5. In a-liorse-collar, the combination, with the llame-irons provided with the 'pivot-post a, having a convex bearing-surface and terminating` in the pin a3, of the neck-yoke having a corresponding concavity. and aperture,

`whereby said parts are automatically adjustlower ends of the collar-pads may be widenedv or narrowed, as may be required, substantially asset forth.

7. In a horse collar, the combination, with the pads composing the collar proper, of the haine-irons B B, permanently secured .to said pads, and the adjustable neck-yoke parts C C, loosely attached to said haine-irons and having' an automatic adjustment relative thereto, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

WILLIAM THURBER. ANDRUS NORLING.

Vitnesses:

L. M. FREEMAN, L. B. CoUrLAND. 

